-63_Juvenilia Act-3 Sc-2.htm

SCENE II

Before Alaciel’s house.

MELANDER (alone)

Now, for her widowed state is wooed by night
The sable-vested air puts on her stars
And in her bosom pins for brooch the moon.
She from her diamond chalice soon will pour
Her flowing glories on a rose’s hair,
In pity of my love. Sweet crimson rose,
Alaciel’s lamp, the beacon of my bliss,
O kindle quickly at the moon thy rays.
How happy art thou being near my love!
For thou who hast the perfume of her breath,
Why shouldst thou the spice-lipped Zephyr want?
Her dove’s feet whispering in the happy grass
Are surely lovelier to thee than the dawn;

Or wilt thou woo the world-embracing orb,

Who hast the splendour of her eyes to soothe

Thy slumber into waking? O red rose,

Might I but merge in thee, how would her touch

Thrill all my petals with delicious pain!

O could I pawn my beauty for a kiss,

How happy were I to waste all myself

In shreds of scarlet ruin at her feet!

It is my hour! for see, the cowslip-curled

Night-wandering patroness of lovers throws

Her lantern’s orange-coloured beams, where sleeps

A bright, blown rose. Hail, empress of the stars!

Be thou tonight my hymeneal torch.

Alaciel! Echo, hush thy babbling tongue!

‘Tis not Narcissus calls. I am a thief

Who steal from beauty’s garden one sweet bud

Nor need like visitants thy tinkering bell.

Alaciel! O with thy opiate wand

Thought-killing Mercury, seal every eye

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On whom the drowsy Morpheus has not breathed
Yet once again the charm. Alaciel!
Now at thy window dawn, thou lovelier moon,
Than sojourns in the sky! look out on me,
An ivory face thro’ rippling clouds of hair.

Enter Alaciel above.
Marcion and Doris behind.

ALACIEL

Who calls?

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